Machine for and method of decorating ware



W. M. SECOY May 3, 1938.

MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF DECORATING WARE Filed March 15, 1935 4Sheets-Sheet l mm m m O H; m mm Q mm mm w mm K o efi lnventor A;(Ittorng May 3, 1938.

w M. sEcoY. 2,116,466

MACH I E I JE FOR AND METHOD OF DECORATING WARE Filed March 15, 1935 4Sheets-Sheet 2 lrwentor WILBUR M.S'EC GY (Ittomegs y 1"933- w. M. sEcoY66 MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF DECORATING WARE Filed March 15, 1955 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.5.

ZSnnentor WILBUR M.SEDUY u Gf 1 J (Ittorneg;

W. M. SECOY MACHINE FOR At ID METHOD OF DECORATING WARE May 3, 1938.

Filed March 15 -1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 3nnentor v WILBUR M.SEGOY. m a; ep

' aflom'egg Patented May 3, 1938 PATENT OFFICE 2,116,466 MACHINE son ANDMETHOD or nscona'r- ING WARE Wilbur M. Secoy, Lancaster, 01110,assignor, by

memo assignments,

to Solar Laboratories,

Beaver, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 15, 1935,Serial No. 11,304

:1 Claims.

The invention relates to a machine for and method of decorating ormarking vessels or con-' tainers with figures or designs of paint orother coating material and more'particularly tumblers.

Tumblers are usually wholly or partially frusto- I conical or taperingin form and it has been the primary object of the invention to providean improved machine that is especially adapted to apply quickly andneatly the decoration or marky ing to articles of that'type.

It has been the further object of the present invention to provide anapparatus for delivering and pressing the articles to be decorated intofrictional engagement with the screen in juxta- 5 position to thesqueegee as the design portion of the screen traverses the squeegee.whereby the motion of the screen rotates the circular article to bedecorated and the paint or the like is forced through the screen todecorate the article on substantially a line. contact.

tion to provide control means for the squeegee whereby the squeegee maybe elevated on the back stroke of the screen, during which time it isproposed that the screen will notbe engaged by the article and istherefore. unsupported.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improvedconveyor or delivery means for successively bringing-the articles to bestenciled into contact with the screen, including means for pressingthe-articles against the screenduring the proper period, thereforecontemplating a novel conveyor arrangement for rotatably and adiustablymounting the articles to be stenciled.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improvedmethod of decorating tumblers or the like enabling the-performance of abetter stenciling operation by the correct coordination of the'mov'ements in relationship to the parts during the act of stenciling.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a plan view, with parts brokenout, illustrating a machine according to the invention. g Fig. 2 is adetail view of the squeegee or paint applicator. v

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the right hand side of the machine asviewed from the front of the point where the .ware is fed to themachine, with parts in section and parts omitted. Fig. 4 is a detailviewin elevation looking from the rear of the-machine to illustrate themechanism for oscillating the stencil carrying frame.

Fig. 5 is mainly a vertical section on the line.

.,;.-. v v Fig; 4,'with pitman and connection omitted.

- It is the further object of the presentinven- I Fig. 6 is a planviewof thestencilcontaining a design over which the squeegee works.

Fig. 7 is a conventional diagram of the electric wiring where theoperation .of. the machine is to be made automatic in some respects.

Fig. 8' is a detail, one large scale, of a pin for elevating the chucks.

, In the views II designates a stationary frame that is supported bysuitable legs ii, fractions only of which are shown. on the rear end ofsaid. 10 frame is slidably supported a second frame member i2 that isadjustable by means of a screw l3 operated'by a handle I, there beingstops it on said screw II to engage theopposite sides of a bracket itfixed on said frame II to secure the 15 sliding frame It in-a positionto which adjusted by the screw.

The adjustable frame l2 has in its upper portion three threaded socketsl1, any ofwhich receives the threaded pivoting pin it to constitute afulcrum for a horizontally oscillating frame l8, called a banjo, forreceiving and carrying a stencil, as shown. By shifting the pin 1: fromone socket to another through the corresponding hole il in the banjo theradius of oscillation u of the banjo can be varied.

Saidstencil, which is illustrated in Fig. 6, in the present instance.consists of a web of net-like 'silk fabric 20 coatedon both sides witha-suitable material, varnish or shellac and painted so '0 as to leave ascreen in the silk constituting the desired design for decorating ormarking the were and through'which screen the paint is forced to theware. said stencil being stretched and secured .upon a wooden frame 21.

The baniois oscillated by means of a pltman' rod 23 pivotally connectedat one end with the stencil carrier or banJo l9 and pivotally connectedat its'other end to a block 24 that is slidably con nected by a tongueand groove connection with 40 the disk 25 fixed to the upper end of avertical spindle It. The blockffl is providedwith ordinary meanswherebyit can be clamped or fixed at diflferent points in thediametrical groove of the disk and thereby vary the amplitude ofoscillation as of the banjo whatever be its radius of oscillation.

The spindle 2 is rotated by the electric motor 21 through suitablegearing including the driven sprocket chain 2|, sprocket wheel "landbevel I0 gears ll" and 28. Because the block 24' can be adjusted to andfixed in different positions in said diametrical groove in the disk IIthe oscillations of the stencil carrier I! and stencil therein can bevaried according to the circumference ofthe I s article or portionthereof to be decorated or otherwise printed.

By combining in the same machine the means for varying the radius andvarying the amplitude of the strokes of the banjo the machine is adaptedto operate on runs of were diifering in their taper and circumference.

The paint applicator or squeegee shown in Fig. 2. is hingedly supportedby means of a shaft ll loosely mounted at its ends in standards 32 and83 secured to the frame. Said squeegee consists of a strip of sheetrubber or other suitable material adapted to spread paint, said stripbeing clamped between a pair of metallic plates 34 and 85, connectedtogether and with hangers 38 to swing with the shaft II by a screw boltand thumb nut 31, but the plates 34 and 35 can be directly connected tothe shaft ii at the opening 88. The squeegee is shown in Fig. 2 ashingedly connected with a rod 39 encircled by a coil spring 40 thattends to lightly against the stencil.

In order to automatically elevate the squeegee from the stencil in thenon-working stroke of the banjo the rod 3! is provided at its upperendwith an armature cooperating with a solenoid 4| mounted in a fixed frame42 and energized electrically to withdraw the squeegee from the stencilat the end of the working or paint applying stroke of the'banio. Whenthe squeegee is swung down to operating position its lower edge rests onthe stencil 2. in an inclined position.

as shown in Fig. 2. so that when the stencil is moved under it by thestroke of the banjo in one direction paint is squeezed or wiped from theupper surface of the stencil into and through 351;! screen openings andonto the rotated ware Supported on the main frame at the front endthereof is a turntable mechanism comprising a vertical rotary column 43having secured thereto a suitable spider 44 hinged for upward movementat 44" to arms 44 of which are five chucks 4!, each containinganti-friction rollers for supporting the ware (shown at 46) to bedecorated. Said column 48 can be intermittently rotated by means of anysuitable Geneva movement (not shown) operated'by the electric motor 21through gearing including chain 20 so as successively to place each ofthe articles to be decorated in proper temporary position axially belowthe stencil in the interval between the rotations of the spider by theGeneva movunent. An illustration of the Geneva movement suitable for themachine, with obvious modification for the present purpose, is shown anddescribed in the patent of the United States patented to 'datedOctoberMms Revolving with the rotatable column below the tumbler or 48 carryingfive vertically movable gravityactuatedpins4l,oneforeachofthewarecarrying adjustable as to 1m, theparts being held by aiamnut4tafterldjushnent. Becauseofthisadiustability oftheplnarticlestobedecorated of diflerent taper can beelevated to make the pmerlinecontactwiththelowerfaceofthe stencil pressthe squeegee warercarryingheadisawheel' thereon to a position to make aline of contact with the lower face of the stencil. This contact of theware with the stencil is such that friction of the stencil, when swungby the banjo, causes the elevated ware to rotate in the chuck ontheanti-friction rollers of the latter.

It will be observed that the machine thus described includes moreimportantly an oscillated stencil, a chuck or chucks for presentingspecimensof the ware to the lower face of the stencil, the ware beingrotated by the friction of the stencil on the ware upon an oscillationof the stencil, and a removable squeegee for applyingpaint throughopenings constituting the design of the marking or decoration. Suchparts can be operated by hand.

In Fig. '7' there is shown diagrammatically means for electrically andautomatically operating parts of the machine. In the diagram, as shownin Fig. 7, the power circuit comes in at A.

At 21 is the motor which operates the ware chuck carrier-and also drivesthe shaft 28 for oscillating the banjo. At 52 is the contact of acircuit for lifting the squeegee from the stencil, at 53 is the contactof a circuit for lowering the squeegee to rest on the stencil, at 54 isa safety switch for causing the elevation of the squeegee in the eventthe attendant fails to place any ware on the chuck, thus preventinginjury by the squeegee to the stencil, and at 4i is the solehold forraising the squeegee.

In operation the motor is started by closing a switch at B. Through thetrain of gearing and sprocket chains driven by the motor the wareholding chucks are rotated with a step by step movement to present andhold a tumbler to the lower side of the stencil and the stencil carryingframe oscillated. Adjustably fixed on the oscillating frame are electricswitch operating fingers 55 and 54 which alternatingly operate theswitches 52 and 53 to cause the automatic rais- 'ing and lowering of thesqueegee. One of said switches energizes the solenoid 4! to raise thesqueegee from the stencil, and the other of said switches deenergizessaid solenoid to permit the spring 4| to press the squeegee downward onthe stencil to spread and force paint through the pattern to the warebelow.

Attached to the solenoid frame 42 is the electric switch'button 54 thatis operated by a cross bar $4 on the squeegee "Jd t'o energize-thesolenoid and raise the squeegee when there is an excessive downwardmovement of the squeegee which, as before stated, happens when theattendant fails to insert a tumbler on the chuck. thus preventinginjurious pressure on the stencil.

.In practice the ware is placed in the chuck by an attendantand afterreceiving the decoration is removed by another attendant, and theoperating gearing is timed to hold the ware under the stencil and thesqueegee down on the stencil during the paint applying swing of thebanjo, the lifting of the squeegee from the stencil being effected uponthe completion of the swing ofthe banjo and a fresh piece of warepositioned for printing at the close of the return stroke. Theelectrical circuit and apparatus are mainly for convenience and safetyconfined in the housing: C, D and E with external wires leading thereto.

The term decorate" and its derivations includes also the marking of warewith any desired characters for commercial purposes.

The forms of the parts can be changed without departing from the gist ofthe invention as What I claim is: A

i. In a machine for decorating ware with or similar material, anoscillating frame-for carrying a stencil, a squeegee operating at oneface of said stencil and a plurality of chucks on a retatable column forsupporting each piece of ware in succession at the opposite face of saidstencil, said ware to receive paint fed through the stencil by saidsqueegee.

2. In a machine for decorating ware with paint or similar material, anoscillating frame for carrying a stencil, a squeegee to operate atoneface of said stencil, and a rotatable column carrying "a plurality ofmovable chucks for supporting the ware and means whereby ware in saidchucks are paint 7 successively presented to the opposite face of saidstencil, said ware to receive paint fed through the stencil.

3. Ina machine for decorating ware having a curved cross section with apaint or similar material, a swinging frame for carrying a stencil, asqueegee operating at one face of said stencil, a

, rotatable column carrying a plurality of chucks for said ware hingedthereto, and means whereby said chucksare successively elevated to causea substantially parallel contact of the ware with the opposite face ofsaid stencil.

4. In a machine for decorating ware with paint or; similar material, anoscillating frame for carrying astencil, asqueegee to operate at oneface of said stencil, and a plurality of chucks mounted on a rotatablecolumn for supporting the ware stthe opposite face of said stencil, saidware to receive paint fed through the stencil upon the oscillation ofsaid frame in one direction and means for causing theseparation' of thesqueegee and stencilwhen said frame is'oscillated in the oppositedirection.

5. In a machine for decorating'ware with paint or similar material, anoscillating frame for-cartying a stencil, a squeegee to operate at oneface of said stencil, and a chuck for supporting a piece of ware at theopposite face of said stencil, and means for oscillating said frame,saidoscillating means incorporating a stroke adjustment device.

6. In a machine for decorating ware with paint or similarmateriahanoscillating frame .for carrying a stencil, a squeegee tooperate at one face.

' of said stencil, and a chuck for supporting a piece of ware at theopposite face of said 'stencll, and

means whereby the radius of oscillation of said frame-canbe'varied. v.

'i. In amachine for decorating ware with paint ,or similar material,anoscillating frame for carrylng a stencil, asqueegee to operate at oneface of said stencil, a chuck for supporting the; were at the oppositeface of the stencil, means whereby the radius of oscillation of saidframe can be varied and means whereby the amplitude of oscillation ofsaid frame can be varied.

B. In a machine vfor decorating ware having a curved'cross section witha paint or similar material, a swinging frame for carrying a stencil, a

operating at one faceof said stencil, a

, chuck for said ware, and means whereby said chuck is moved to cause asubstantially parallel contact of the ware with the opposite face ofsaid stencil, said contact causing rotation of the ware when the stencilis swung.

9. In a machine for decorating regularly tapered ware with a paintor-similar materiaL-a swinging frame for carrying a stencil, a squeegeewhereby'sald operating at one face of said stencil. a chuck forrotatably supporting the tapered ware, and means chuck is moved to causesubstantially parallel contact of the ware with the opposite face ofsaid stencil.

10. In a machine for decorating regularly tawhen the stencil is swung byits carrier.

11. In a machine for decorating ware with paint or similar material, aswingingframe for carryinga stencil, a squeegee operating at one face ofv the stencil, a chuck for supporting the were 'at the opposite face ofsaid stencil, said ware to receive paint fed by the squeegee through thestencil upon the oscillation of said frame, and means for automaticallyremoving said squeegee from. the stencil when the paint feedingoperation is completed.

12. In a machine for decorating ware with paint carrying a stencil, asqueegee operating at one face of the stencil, a chuck for supportingthe ware at the opposite face of said stencil, said ware to receivepaint fed through the stencil uponthe oscillation of said frame, powermeans for. oscillating said frame, and means for automatically elevatingsaid squeegee from the stencil upon alternate strokes of saidoscillating frame.

13. In a machine for decorating ware with paint or similar material, 'a.movable frame carrying a stencil, a squeegee operating at one face ofsaid stencil, a chuck for supporting the ware at the opposite face ofsaid stencil and means for restraining pressure of the squeegee on thestencil when unsupported by the ware below the stencil.

14. In a machine for decorating ware with paint or similar'material, aframe carrying a stencil, a rotatable column, a ware supporting chuckhingedly supported for verticalmovement on said column, a stationary cammember with reference to which said chuck is swung'horizontally and anadjustable pin carried betweensaid chuck and i said chuck andthewarethereonto' cause asursaid cam member for actuating said pin toelevate face of said ware to be decorated to lie in. parallel relationto said stencil.

stencil to the container as the latter advances in contact with thescreen. i

16. A machine for decorating conical articles comprising, incombination, holding means for the or similar material, an oscillatableframe for article, rotatable means upon which said article is isupported to rotate (in its axis, a stencil device and means foroscillating the same on an axis inclined to said first mentioned axis,said stencil device having a screen and adapted to rotate said ar icleby tractional engagement, and means for applying decorating materialthrough said screen while the article is rotated by the stencil device.'17. A machine for decorating articles comprising, in combination,holding means for the arti- A cle, an article support on said holdingmeans permitting rotation of the article about anaxis, a stencil. andmeans for oscillating said stencil about an axis inclined to said firstmentioned axis,

porting the article so said stencil having tractional engagement withsaid article, for rotating the same.

18. A machine for decorating the surface of an article comprising meansfor holding the article, means supporting the article for rotation aboutan axis, a screen frame-a screen carried thereby, means foroscillating-said frame about an axis with the screen in rolling contactwith said surface, said article rotated by said rolling contact, andmeans to apply decorating material through saidscreen to said surface.

19. In an apparatus for stenciling an article having a frusto-conicalsurface, means for supportingthe article so that it is free to rotateabout the axis of said surface, a flat stencil screen mounted intangential contact with said surface for oscillation about an axisperpendicular to said screen, means for oscillating said screen, andmeans whereby the position of said-screen may be adjusted-along the lineof contact between said screen and surface independently of the axis ofoscillation of said screen.

20. In an apparatus for stenciling an article having a frusto-conicalsurface, means for supporting the article while permitting rotation ofthe same about the axis of said surface, a. flat stencil screen mountedin a'horizontal plane in tangential contact with said surface foroscillation about a perpendicular axis, means for oscillating saidscreen, and means for adjusting the position of said screen horizontallyalong the line of contact between said screen and surface independentlyof the axis of oscillation of said screen.

21. In an apparatus for stenciling an article frusto-conical surface,means for supthat it is free to rotate about the axis of said surface, aflat stencil screen tionary squeegee in contact with said screen forforcing coloring matter through said screen, and means for adjusting theportion of said screen along the line of contact between said screen andsurface independently of said squeegee.

22. In an apparatus for stenciling an article having a frusto-conicalsurface, a flat stencil screen mounted for oscillation about an axisperpendicular to the plane of said screen, means for forcing coloringmatter through said screen, means independent of said first mentionedmeans for adjusting the position of said screen to lengthen or shortmthe radius of oscillation of the same throughout 'an increment of itslength, and means for positioning an article against said screen withits frusto-conical surface in contact therewith.

23. Ina stenciling machine for applying paint or the like to articles ofware, an oscillating frame,-

-a stencil on said frame, a squeegee adapted to en- Ille and pass acrossone face of said stencil, a chuck for supporting a piece of ware at theopposite face of the stencil, a crank and pitman mechanism foroscillating said frame, and said mechanism including a stroke adjustmentdevice. it. In a stenciling machine, a stencil screen,- means forapplying paint or the like through said stencil screen, a turntable forreceiving a series of articles of ware to be decorated, said turntableIncluding a series of supports, the axes of which are radially disposedabout the turntable axis, for Supporting the articles of ware andmovable for massively presenting said articles of ware to the stncilscreen; and said supports and stencil screen related for causing thearticles of ware to engage cessively moving said articles to screen, aconveyor ,unit for the screen for receiving rotation from the screen.

25. In a stenciling machine, a stenciling means including a screen,means for applying paint or the like through the screen, a turntable forsupporting articles of ware in circumferentially spaced supports, andmeans for moving said articles to and against the surface of the screen,said turntable moving on an axis substantially at right angles to thesurface of the stencil screen engaging the successive articles of ware.

26. In a stenciling machine, a movable stencil screen and means formoving it, means-for forcing paint or the like through the screen, and arotatary table means, including supports, the axes of which are radiallydisposed about the axis of the turntable, for receiving and successivelymoving articles of ware to position adjacent the screen and means forbringing the article against the screen, said rotary table meansincluding a driving means imparting intermittent motion -to the table,said driving means timed with respect to the length of the design beingapplied whereby each article is engaged by the stencil screen androtated thereby while the paint or the like is being applied and thenmoved away r as the next succeeding article is brought up.

27. In a stenciling machine, a stencil screen, means for forcing paintor the like through the screen, a turntable for articles of ware forsucthe screen, and

means for moving the articles against the screen,

, said turntable including a plurality of radially disposed cradlesadapted to support the articles of ware radially with respect to theaxis of rotation of the turntable, said cradles including supportrollers for permitting easy rotation of the articles of ware, saidconveyor moving on an axis substantially at right angles to the surfaceof the stencil screen engaging the successive articles of ware.

28. In a stenciling machine, a movable stencil screen, a stationarysqueegee'mounted to engage the screen for forcing paint or the likethrough the screen, means for presenting a series of circular articlesto be decorated to the screen and squeegee, said means comprising aturntable carrying a series of article holders, radially disposed,

in which the articles to be decorated are freely rotatable, drivingmechanism for moving the screen and turntable in synchronization withthe motion of the screen so that the articles to be decorated areprwented to the screen as the design portion of the screen traverses thesqueegee, and means pressing each article to be'drcorated intofrictional engagement with the screen in juxtaposition to the squeegeeas the design portion of the screen traverses the squeegee, whereby themotion -of the screen rotates the'circular article to be decorated andthe paint or the like is forced through the screen to decorate thearticle on substantially a line contact.

29. In a stenciling machine, a movable stencil screen, a stationarysqueegee engageable with the screen for forcing paint or the likethrough the successively presenting circular articles to be decorated tothe screen and squeegee, said conveyor unit including a series ofarticle holders, said holders including means for rotatably supportingthe articles to be decorated, whereby they may be freely rotated,driving means for rotating'the screen and moving the conveyor unit insynchronism, whereby the articles to be decanted are presented to thescreen as the design portions of the screen traverse the squeegee,andr-ieans successively engaging the 78 article holders for pressing thearticles to be decorate-d into frictional engagement with the screenimmediately adjacent to the squeegee as the design portion of the screentraverses the squeegee, whereby the motion of the screen rotates thecircular article to be decorated and the paint or the like is forcedthrough the screen for decorating the article on substantially a linecontact.

30. In a stenciling machine, a movable stenciling screen, a devicefor-applying paint or the like through the screen, and a driven discincluding cradles for iotatably supporting ware to be stenciled and forsuccessively moving the articles of ware into position adjacent saidscreen, the

cradles being disposed with their axes radial to the axis of the disc,and means for bringing the articles and screen into contact with oneanother.

31. In a machine for decorating articles of ware, a printing member, aturntable for supporting articles of ware in circumterentlally spacedsupports, for engagement with the printing member, and means for movingsaid articles .to and against the surface of the printing mem-

